Our voice and opinions are powerful. Our legislators were elected to represent our concerns. It is up to us to voice concerns and to make our voice heard. If we take the time to convey our thoughts to our elected officials and follow up with them, our message will have great impact, but we all must get involved.

SENATE HEARINGS

SB 427RELATING TO RANKED CHOICE VOTING.
Establishes ranked choice voting for special federal elections and special elections of vacant county council seats. OPPOSE

SB 560RELATING TO ELECTIONS.
Enacts voting by mail uniformly across all counties for all elections commencing in 2022. Establishes a limited number of voter service centers that would remain open from the tenth business day preceding an election through the day of the election to receive personal delivery of mail-in ballots, accommodate voters with special needs, offer same day registration and voting, and provide other election services. Allows for additional places of deposit for personal delivery of mail-in ballots. Appropriates funds for the implementation and administration of the election by mail program. Requires the office of elections to submit a report to the legislature prior to the convening of each regular session from 2020 through 2025, regarding the implementation of a vote by mail system. OPPOSE

HOUSE HEARINGS

HB 132RELATING TO FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION.
Establishes the class B felony offense of prohibited acts related to female genital mutilation. Requires prosecuting attorneys of the respective counties to keep annual statistics on cases involving prohibited acts related to female genital mutilation. Requires the Judiciary's administrative director of the courts to annually compile and report these county statistics to the legislature. Requires the Department of Health to design and implement a plan for raising awareness about, preventing, and treating female genital mutilation and to report regularly to the Legislature on plan implementation. SUPPORT

HB 620PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE HAWAII CONSTITUTION TO REQUIRE THE ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
Proposes a constitutional amendment to change the Board of Education back to an elected board. SUPPORT

HB 621RELATING TO EDUCATION.
Implements an elected board of education. SUPPORT

TESTIMONY

Testimony for legislative measures scheduled for hearing by the House or Senate should be delivered at least 24 hours prior to the hearing and may be submitted in person, by fax, or electronically as indicated on the hearing notice.

Testimony for legislative measures scheduled for hearing by the House or Senate may be submitted electronically through the Hawaii State Legislature's website at www.capitol.hawaii.gov by clicking on the button marked Submit Testimony and following the on-screen instructions.

Testimony for legislative measures scheduled for hearing by the Senate may also be faxed to 586-6659 (Oahu) or 1-800-586-6659 (Neighbor Islands).

SENATE HEARING LATE TESTIMONY - Testimony received after the 24-hour deadline will be posted to the Capitol website within 24 hours after the hearing has adjourned and may be marked as "late".

HOUSE HEARING LATE TESTIMONY - Staff will try to incorporate additional testimony received within 24 hours of the hearing if possible.

The hearing committee will post testimony received "on-time" to the Capitol website at the beginning of the hearing. Testimony received after the 24-hour deadline may be marked as "late" but will be posted to the Capitol website as soon as possible following the hearing. Testimony submitted after the hearing will not be considered or posted.